07/13/2020
😎 The horrific events taking place in our country over the last few months have given me and all of us reason to be apprehensive, concerned, and fearful to say the least. I cannot recall a time in our lives where just about every aspect of our way of life and our daily routines have been so adversely and traumatically affected. So many things we have always thought were so simple and never gave a second thought to, and even took totally for granted, now require careful thought, preparation, and proper planning, the magnitude of which we could have never imagined. Where something so simple as getting a cup of coffee now requires as much due diligence as preparing for a trip to a foreign country or a tax audit. And when we get there will the place even be open for business? If they are, “Can I go inside?”, “Do I need a mask?”, “How crowded is the place?”, “Is it drive-thru only?”, “Have they taken all of the necessary precautions?”, “Are they doing enough proper cleaning?” etc., etc.
I am a “baby-boomer” and have lived through some of the most difficult, stressful, and traumatic eras in our country’s history. The Korean War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the assassination of Pres. John F. Kennedy, Robt. F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, the Cold War, the Riots for Racial Equality, proliferation of illegal drug use, the Vietnam War, Women’s Lib movement, Watergate, HIV, Rodney King, the Recession. All these events have had a powerful impact on the lives of everyone that have experienced and lived through them.
While these moments in our history were indeed profound, significant, extremely important, influential, and not to be diminished, there is certainly one event in particular that stands out from the others.
Almost twenty years ago, on September 11, 2001, the World Trade Center towers in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington D.C., suffered a direct surprise attack by 3 hijacked airliners on a su***de mission. Both towers were destroyed, and the Pentagon was heavily damaged. Almost 3,000 innocent people were killed. And millions of us witnessed it live on TV as it was happening. We were all shocked, stunned, horrified, overwhelmed, and just simply could not believe what our eyes were seeing. It will forever be included in the, “Do you remember exactly where you were when …..?”
Which brings me to the motivation and reason I have for writing this.
As all of the preliminary damage was assessed and a plan of action was taking shape a truly remarkable, incredible, and wonderful transformation began to take place over our entire country. Within just a few short hours and having a chance for it all to “sink in”, we ALL came together and became as united a nation as I have ever seen or witnessed. The word “unity” was elevated to a whole new level. We rallied together, we walked and marched arm-in-arm, hand-in-hand, and shouted “U.S.A.!, U.S.A.!”. As a small package delivery driver, I went through many neighborhoods and towns on a daily basis. I have never seen so many American flags displayed or flying, attached to cars, or flag t-shirts and hats. At sporting events, I have never heard the National Anthem or “God Bless America” sung so loud or with such enthusiasm and energy. The only colors anyone saw, cared about, or that really mattered are/were red, white, and blue. We cheered, honored, awarded, and supported without question the men-in-blue, firefighters, EMT’s, first-responders, military, and everyone for their efforts, bravery, and heroism.
The terrorist attack and destruction of the World Trade Center was an unimaginable and incomprehensible tragedy. It was without question the worst act of terrorism in our history, but what followed was a remarkable and powerful “uniting” and “bonding” of ALL people unlike anything we’ve ever seen before or since this terrible event.
And here we are today, living with and facing another monumental and equally devastating tragedy. COVID-19 is affecting every family and every aspect of our daily lives. At this moment, and for the foreseeable future there appears to be no end in sight. (From my personal viewpoint, I do have complete faith in our science, technical, and medical experts on all levels that at some point a proven treatment, cure and/or vaccine will be discovered. But no one can say or even predict when that will take place. All over the world there is nonstop experimenting and testing on all levels to end this horrible and tragic nightmare).
At the same time, there are other equally significant, ongoing events that cannot be overlooked or dismissed, and demand our attention. The terribly tragic case of George Floyd at the end of May, has forced us again to reexamine where we are as a nation when it comes to racial equality and injustice. For far too long these issues have been ignored, or at the very least, brushed aside. It is time to finally come to the realization that the United States at its very core is a huge “melting pot”. We have welcomed people from all over the world, from all different nationalities, beliefs, and cultures to become American citizens for well over 200 years. For me, it’s about taking a common sense and practical view that it’s part of our constitution and that “it is what it is”. It can no longer be about our “differences” and we must be focused on the fact that we are all just human beings, regardless of our appearance, and we are going to share this space forever, so why not just make the best of it? Our mission, our goal, and our focus as we go into the future should be, “What can we do to become one big happy family?” A bit idealistic, I know, but whatever we have been doing and are doing now, is certainly not solving the problems or making everyone’s lives any better.
Another issue that continues to make headlines, on almost a daily basis, is gun control. It seems like every day there is another story of people being killed or injured by individually, privately, or even worse, illegally owned fi****ms. I won’t pretend that I know the answers to this dilemma and I’m sad to say that I don’t know who/what is right or wrong. But, we just cannot continue to have as many deaths or injuries, especially to innocent victims and children, by someone choosing to use a gun in a fit of anger, or even by accident, for whatever reason. I have to believe that the authors of the constitutional language pertaining to gun ownership might have been much more specific and would have written stricter laws if they could have known what is happening today.
Finally, if that is not enough for us to cope with, we are less than 4 months away from a Presidential election. I can’t recall a more contentious atmosphere surrounding an election than this one. As of now, there is no way to know what the results of this election will be. I can’t remember if emotions have ever run this high, either for or against, a sitting President. It is a momentous decision we will have to make and most importantly we need to be united and stand together whatever the results may be.
Our country is going through the most difficult, stressful, and anxious time that I can recall in my lifetime. COVID-19 is going to be the daily headline for many months ahead. The other events happening at the same time are equally important, as well. When I think back to 9-11, my most vivid memory is that we all learned what we can accomplish and become, and the powerful message we send when we all come together in a common cause. Far too often I think we have truly forgotten that message. The United States is still, by far, the greatest country in the world and it never crosses my mind what my life would be like if I lived somewhere else. We absolutely need to remember that time after 9-11 happened, resurrect those memories and apply them to our lives today to get us through this time we are living through now!
WE CAN DO THIS!!
